Type-writing machine.



A. S. DENNIS.

TYPE WRLTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-23, I912.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

ADOLPHUS S. DENNIS, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRI'IEB. COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 13, 1917.

Application filed January 23, 1912. Serial No. 672,849.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AnoLrHUs S. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-VVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to'a new and improved billing machine, and particularly to the means for facilitating the successive writing of a plurality of bills or item sheets while recording the several items of the successive bills on a ledger or record sheet, and is an improvement on my application No. 661,661, filed November 22, 1911, patented April at, 1916, No. 1,177,934.

In my application above-mentioned, I showed how the platen of a typewriter could be operated by the simple manipulation of an actuator to feed separate item or bill sheets, while maintaining a record or ledger sheet on the platen, allowing both for the space on each bill head and adjustment of the ledger sheet to the next writing line between two successive bill sheets.

This was accomplished by connecting the actuator to the platen by means of a clutch, the members or parts of which were in engagement with each other for a portion only of the movement of the actuator; the extent of engagement depending on the combined effective magnitude of a plurality of relatively adjustable cams, which forced one of the clutch members into engagement with the other and held it there for variable periods depending on their relative positions. One of the clutch members had a variable play relatively to the platen in a return direction to allow for the spacing of the ledger sheet.

In the prior form, the bevel of the teeth of one of the clutch members was depended upon to disconnect the clutch members from each other when the limit of the fixed cam had been reached. The distinction in this invention is that positive means are provided for disconnecting the clutch members when this point has been reached, so as to assure freedom of action of that clutch member which has play relatively to the platen; said clutch member being returned by a spring, after the release of the clutch member from the driver. The spring being of light tension, a positive release of this spring returned clutch member from the driver is desirable, in order to insure that the spring may properly return the clutch member to normal position relatively to the platen. The positive means is shown in the form of a fixed lug engaging a prolongation of one of the clutch members at a point just short of the normal position of the actuator.

Other features and advantages will herei inafter appear. 4

.' Inthe accompanylng drawings,

Figure 1 1s a fragmentary view, showing writer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, partly broken away to disclose the underlying structure, and showing the crank or actuator starting on its return movement.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line %4:

of Fig. 2, showing the detent and cams in their normal position.

, Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and showing the means for determining the distance to be lost in the return movement of the crank or actuator.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cams.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, showing the relative position of the lug for positively disconnecting the detent from the crown gear with respect to the end of the fixed cam.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the crank on the return movement, and all the parts in their proper relative positions.

Fig. 9 is a right end view in elevation, showing the pin and the scale for setting the feeding device for a certain number of lines.

Fig. 10 is a detail View of the crown gear.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of this invention as embodied in the form shown in the drawings, 1 indicates a platen which is secured to an axle 2 mounted in suitable bearings in a shiftable platen frame 3, which is supported in the usual manner by lifting hooks 4 on the main carriage. The axle 2, and thus the platen 1, can be rotated in either direction any desired amount by means of knobs 5 and 6 located at each end thereof. The platen can also be rotated step-by-step for the normal line spacing in the usual manner by means of a pawl 7 which engages a ratchet wheel 8 the device attached to the platen of a typesecured to the axle 2, and which is also on gaged by a detent 9, so as to hold it in any position to which it is manipulated.

Secured to the axle 2 there is provided a cup 10, which is formed so as to cooperate with a fixed casing 11 to provide an inclosure for a clutch 12. The casing 11 may be fixed in any suitable manner as by being secured to a rod 13 which is secured to the platen frame 3. The clutch 12 forms a means for connecting an actuator 14, shown in the form of a crank, to the platen 1, so that the platen may be rotated by the actuator. The crank 14 however is normally loosely mounted with respect to the axle 2, so that it will not operate the platen 1 or interfere with its operation.

The actuator 14 is secured to a sleeve 15 in any suitable manner as by means of a set screw 16, and said sleeve is loosely mounted on the axle 2, so as to rotate relative'thereto. The sleeve 15 has pivotally connected thereto one member or part of the clutch 12, which is shown in this instance to be in the form of a detent 17 adapted to engage bevel teeth 18 of the other member of the clutch 12 which is shown in the form of a. crown gear 19. Any motion of the crank 14 tends to force the detent 17 out from between the teeth 18 in iew of the fact that these teeth are inclined in both directions to form cam surfaces.

For the purpose of forcing the detent 17 into engagement with the teeth 18 there are provided a pair of relatively adjustable disks 20 and 21 loosely mounted relative to the sleeve 15, and having overlapping cams 22 and 23, which are adapted to engage with the detent 17 after a predetermined movement of the crank 14 to force said detent in between certain of the teeth 18 on the crown gear 19, and thus clutch the platen 1 to the crank 14, so as to rotate it thereby.

The disk 20 is normally fixed so that its cam will likewise be fixed. This is accomplished by a pin 24 which is secured to the fixed casing 11 and extends into an opening in the disk 20. To secure various combined effective magnitudes of the cams 22 and 23, the disk 20 is provided with a series of openings 25, any one of which can beengaged by a spring-pressed pin 26 secured to the disk 21, so as to lock The disks in any relative arrangement. The relative posit-ions of the disks. and thus the effective magnitude of the cams, is indicated by a scale 27 in connect on with a reference mark 28 on the fixed casing 11.

The clutch member 19, which is shown in the form of the crown gear, is not rigidly connected to the cup 10, but yieldingly connected thereto so as to allow for a certain amount of play during the return motion of the crank 14, so as to allow for the spacing of the ledger sheet up to the next writing line between the change from one bill sheet to the next bill sheet. The amount of this play is determined by a pin 29 fixedly secured to the cup 10 and apin 30 adjustably mounted on the cup 10, so as to enter any one of a plurality of openings 31 located at different distances from the pin 29. The pin 30 is spring-pressed and secured to a hanger 32 loosely mounted on the hub of the cup 10. The pins 29 and 30 determine the limit of play by cooperating with a lug or pin 33 secured to the crown gear 19 and located between them. Normally, the pin 33 is held in enagegment with the pin 29 by means of a spring 34, one end of which is secured to the axle 2, and the other end of which is secured to the crown gear 19. The position of the pin 30', and thus the extent of play, may be indicated by a reference mark 50 (Fig. 7 on the pin and a scale 51 on the cup 10.

It has been'seen how the detent 17is forced into engagement with the teeth of the crown gear 19 by the cams 22 and 23. In orderto force this detent out of engage-- ment therewith at a predetermined point in the movement of said actuator 14, so as to unclutch the actuator from the clutch member 19 which rotates the'platen 1, there is provided a lug 35 secured to the fixed casing 11 at a point adjacent the extremity of the fixed cam 22, which extremity is located adjacent the starting and finishing point of the movement of the actuator 14. The lug 35 is located on the opposite side of the detent 17 from that of the cams 22 and 23, so that it will retard the detent 17 and positively force it from between the teeth of the crown gear 19. The latter is now free and may be rotated back to normal position relatively to the platen, by the action of the spring 34, which is preferably not of sufiicient tension to be able, unaided, to force the dog 17 out of engagement with the teeth 18. This is to insure that the advance stroke of the platen shall be greater than the return stroke thereof, whereby proper blank spacing will be made between successive entries on the record sheet. It will be seen that the lug 35 is located beyond the circumference of the crown gear 19, so that it does not interfere with the movement thereof, and in order that the detent may engage therewith, it is extended beyond the periphery of the crown gear 19. The starting and finishing point of the movement of the crank or actuator 14 is determined by a socket 36 in the fixed casing 11, which is engaged by a spring-pressed detent or dog 37 movably mounted on the crank 14.

In the operation of the device, the bill sheet and the ledger sheet are fed to the b ight of the platen with a carbon sheet between, and the crank or actuator 14 rotated a complete rotation in the direction of the I of the platen 1.

14, the lug 35 will come into engagement with the detent 17, forcing the latter out of i: engagement with the teeth 18 of the clutch member 19. WVhen the bill has been written, the actuator 11 will be swung in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, that is to say, in the opposite direction to the F arrow shown in Fig. 5, when the pin 33 will move up to the pin without carrying the clutch member 19 with it, thus giving a limited return motion to the actuator 1 1 without a corresponding return movement This allows the ledger sheet to be manipulated forward with the next bill sheet to a position corresponding to the next writing line thereon.

The actuator 1% will come around to its starting point 36, when the bill sheet can be removed from the platen and another bill sheet placed therein with the record or ledger sheet which remains on the platen. The actuator can then be again rotated in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 5, to draw the ledger sheet and the new bill sheet up to the printing point. The detent 17 will be again forced out by the lug 35 so as to positively unclutch the platen from the actuator l t at the end of the movement of the actuator.

It will be noted that the actuator'makes a complete revolution at each complete operation, and is not arrested by stops at any P point, but merely picks up and drops the platen at predetermined points in its revolution. The operator therefore always makes a natural movement of the hand in my device, no matter whether the platen is turned nearly a full revolution or only a few line spaces.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a platen, of a platen driver normally disconnected from the platen, a platen-driving clutch member between said driver and said platen, said clutch member capable of a preliminary limited movement with respect to the platen, means for coupling said driver to said clutch member and for maintaining the connection, a device to effect uncoupling of the driver from the clutch member at the final portion of the driving movement, and a spring to return said clutch member to normal position after uncoupling the driver therefrom.

2. The combination with a platen, of a platen driver normally disconnected from the platen, a platen-driving clutch member between said driver and said platen, said clutch member capable of a preliminary limited movement with respect to the platen, means for coupling said driver to said clutch member and for maintaining the con nection, a device to effect uncoupling of the driver from the clutch member at the final portion of the driving movement, a spring to return said clutch member to normal position after uncoupling the driver therefrom, and means for re-coupling the driver to the clutch member upon the return stroke of the driver for returning the platen; the return stroke of the platen being shorter than the advance stroke thereof, by reason of the independent return movement of said clutch member eifected by said spring.

3. The combination with a platen, of a platen driver normally disconnected from the platen, a platen-driving clutch member between said driver and said platen, said clutch member capable of a preliminary limited movement with respect to the platen, a cam for automatically coupling said driver to said clutch member for a predetermined movement of said clutch member, a lug adjacent to the end of said cam for uncoupling said clutch member, and a spring for returning the clutch member to normal position after such uncoupling.

ADOLPHUS S. DENNIS.

Witnesses:

CLARA N. WHITFIELD, HARRY L. RIGHEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). (7. 

